On 11 Mar 2004, at 10:06 pm, Deborah Harrell wrote:
"Robert J. Chassell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:<most snipped>
Rather than talk about the human morality of killing humans, I am curious how many on this list think that it is morally good to emulate a `higher being'?
That depends on whether the 'higher being' _is_ morally good....Most of the reasons that I have broken with established religion are related to the many acts and attitudes of dubious morality purported to be the desire or command of the Divine. I simply do not believe that a "good and loving father" would order such things; while I have known friends who take comfort in thinking that some terrible experience is somehow "God's will," I sure-as-bloody-blazes do not. In fact, if I believed that God *wanted* frex, a man to get so drunk that he didn't comprehend that he'd run over and killed his 9yo child in front of her little friends, I'd be worshipping - well, 'the Evil One.' I don't have to admire anyone just because they're stronger, smarter and/or more powerful than me.
[Now having said that, much of what people like Jesus and Buddha (sp?) did set a wonderful example for humanity, and to emulate their acts of kindness is highly admirable, and well worth doing.]
Religion is about crazy people blowing stuff up. 'Higher beings' are by definition incomprehensible so there's no point thinking about them. (If they were comprehensible they'd be just like us, which isn't higher :) )
-- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/
"It is our belief, however, that serious professional users will run out of things they can do with UNIX." - Ken Olsen, President of DEC, 1984.
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